Strategic Account Director - Colleges & Universities

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Owning the end-to-end strategy for securing and scaling partnerships within the Power 4 (SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12), serving as the primary strategic lead for these premier accounts.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to Athletic Directors, CFOs, and University leadership, you will navigate these institutions with the same executive presence and political acumen required for a Fortune 500 C-suite.
• Leading high-stakes negotiations and complex sales cycles across multi-stakeholder environments, effectively bridging the gap between central administration, IT, and athletic departments to align operational, technical, and economic buyers.
• Defining and executing the sales strategy for the Power 4 and Ivy League in collaboration with GTM and executive leadership, helping shape the product roadmap to ensure vivenu remains the dominant force in the elite sports ecosystem.
• Orchestrating sophisticated, long-term deals that require strategic patience, persistence, and high-touch relationship management.
• Maintaining deep knowledge of the sports and collegiate ecosystem, traveling as needed to support customers and engage with the industry.

What you will need to succeed in this role:

• A Master’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree from a top-tier institution, ideally in Business Administration, Sports Management, or a related field.

• 7+ years of professional experience in Strategic Enterprise Sales, Account Management, OR leadership roles within Higher Education / Collegiate Athletics (e.g., Athletic Departments, University Administration, or Collegiate Business Operations).

• Firsthand experience navigating university organizational structures, procurement processes, and stakeholder networks—whether working inside an Athletic Department or selling directly to Athletic Directors, Senior Associate ADs, University CFOs, and Central IT.

• A deep-seated desire to transform the ticketing landscape within the Power 4 and collegiate ecosystem; while you don’t need to be a ticketing veteran, you are driven by the challenge of replacing legacy systems with modern technology to solve the unique operational hurdles of world-class universities.

• A reputation as a "quick study" who can rapidly master the nuances of a new industry and translate that knowledge into immediate credibility with senior leaders.

• Executive presence and the ability to communicate with clarity and authority, whether you are in a boardroom or leading a large-scale presentation.
• A "founder" mentality where you thrive in ambiguity and enjoy building a playbook from the ground up as much as you enjoy executing it.
• A deep sense of grit and curiosity that drives you to solve complex organizational problems and deliver long-term growth.